Journal · 23 guides
Fit, measuring and alterations
Measuring well, getting the fit right for your shape, and general guides to what a tailor can change on clothes you already own.
- 4 min readHow long should your kameez be? Choosing the right length for your heightHow to choose kameez and kurta length for petite and tall figures, from hip to calf length, how to pair each length with trousers, and how to measure your length.Read
- 4 min readAltering a ready-made Pakistani suit in the UK: what can and can’t be changedTaking in, letting out, shortening and re-necking pret Pakistani suits in the UK: what a tailor can change, what can’t, and when a new outfit is the better choice.Read
- 4 min readCommon measuring mistakes, and how to avoid themThe measuring slips that spoil a made-to-measure kameez, from a tilted tape to mixed units and guessed lengths, and the quick checks that catch them before you send.Read
- 4 min readMeasuring yourself without help: a practical methodNo one to hold the tape? A practical way to measure yourself alone for a kameez, with a mirror, a ribbon and a doorframe, and which numbers to take from a garment.Read
- 4 min readUsing a kameez that fits as your templateHow to measure a kameez or kurta that already fits you well, which points to take, why garment numbers differ from body numbers, and when to post the kameez instead.Read
- 4 min readEase explained: how loose should a kameez be?What ease means in a made-to-measure kameez, roughly how much room fitted, regular and relaxed cuts allow at the bust, and how fabric and daily life change it.Read
- 4 min readFitting tips for petite women: proportions, lengths and cutsFitting a kameez or kurta on a petite frame: shoulders, armholes, waist position, sleeves, slits, border scale and trousers, so the outfit fits you, not a size.Read
- 4 min readFitting tips for curvy and plus-size womenMade-to-measure fit for curvy and plus-size women: bust, arms, shoulders, hips and side slits, cuts and necklines that flatter, and checking you have enough fabric.Read
- 4 min readMaternity kurtas and adjustable fits for a changing shapePractical ideas for maternity kurtas and shalwar kameez: cuts that leave room, adjustable ties and waistbands, comfortable trousers, and pieces to wear afterwards.Read
- 4 min readNursing-friendly kurtas: openings that stay discreetNursing-friendly kurta and kameez designs: hidden zips, front plackets, wrap openings and layered overlays, with fabric and design tips so openings stay discreet.Read
- 4 min readArmhole and shoulder fit problems, and how measurements fix themTight armholes, gaping sides, slipping shoulder seams and drag lines: what causes the common kameez armhole and shoulder problems, and which measurements fix them.Read
- 4 min readTrouser fit: rise, waist and length for shalwars and straight trousersHow rise, waist position and length change the fit of a shalwar, straight trousers and cigarette pants, how to measure your rise at home, and common fit problems.Read
- 4 min readUK, EU and US dress sizes: why measurements beat sizes for a kameezWhy dress sizes differ between UK, European and US labels and between brands, why Pakistani S, M and L vary too, and why your measurements are the better guide.Read
- 4 min readLetting out a kameez: how much seam allowance is there?How to check the seam allowance inside a kameez before it is let out, what limits the extra room, and the options, such as side panels, when there is not enough.Read
- 4 min readShortening a kameez without losing an embroidered borderHow to shorten a kameez with an embroidered, printed or lace hem border: moving the border up, shortening at a waist seam, and what the fabric and slits allow.Read
- 4 min readChanging a kameez neckline: what is possibleWhat can change on a kameez neckline: deeper or wider necks, a round neck reshaped into a V or square, a keyhole or collar, and the limits of going higher.Read
- 4 min readTaking in a kameez at the sides, waist and sleevesHow a kameez is taken in at the side seams, waist and sleeves, what happens to slits, prints and zips, how much can come out, and when darts give a better shape.Read
- 4 min readAltering sleeve length and width on a kameez or kurtaShortening, lengthening, narrowing and widening kameez and kurta sleeves: what is possible, what happens to cuffs and borders, and how to measure the change.Read
- 4 min readHemming trousers and shalwars, including cuffs and laceHow shalwars, trousers, cigarette pants and palazzos are shortened, keeping cuffs, lace and embroidered hems, when to shorten from the waist and how to measure.Read
- 4 min readRestyling an old suit into something you will wear againIdeas for restyling a shalwar kameez you no longer wear: a shorter kurta, new sleeves or neckline, side slits, lace and piping, or separates to mix and match.Read
- 4 min readResizing a hand-me-down or gifted suitHow to resize a suit passed down from family or given as a gift in the wrong size: what can come in or out, when to recut, and when a new outfit makes more sense.Read
- 4 min readWhen an alteration is not worth it, and what to do insteadThe signs an alteration will cost more than it gives back, from too little seam allowance to fragile fabric and fixed embroidery, and what to do instead.Read
- 6 min readHow to measure yourself for a shalwar kameezA step-by-step guide to the eleven measurements a tailor needs for a made-to-measure shalwar kameez, with tips for accuracy and a printable diagram.Read
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